Michigan Library Association

2023 MLA Equity Fund Grants

The 2023 MLA Equity Fund Grant application is open through June 2, 2023. Equity Fund Grants aim to reduce financial barriers to professional development opportunities, support individuals currently underrepresented in the library profession, and uplift the professional development of Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, North African, and Middle Eastern individuals. Funds provide resources to be used for memberships, attendance at workshops, educational events, or conferences of the applicants’ choosing, or for other purposes that applicants believe increase their ability to impact and transform the library profession.

State Aid to Public Libraries

In 1977, the State Aid to Public Libraries Act (Act 89 of 1977) was enacted and funding for public libraries and cooperatives was set at $0.50/capita. Based on the rate of inflation, $0.50/capita in 1977 would be equivalent to approximately $2.50/capita in 2023. It took 46 years to reach only $0.50/capita. It is now long past time to increase the state's financial investment to keep our 397 public library systems viable and strong in each of our Michigan communities.

Youth Literary Awards Top Ten Titles

Check out the top titles of the 2023 Mitten, YouPer and Thumbs Up! Awards! Flyers, awards seals, and award banners are available and free to use. Please use these resources at your library to help us promote MLA Youth Literary Awards and the amazing job our workgroups do in selecting the very best books for youth! Download the Top Ten List Flyers linked below.

The winners and honor books will be announced at the 2023 MLA Youth Literary Awards event: Save the date for Friday, June 16 at 10:00 AM, and plan to watch the announcement on MLA's Facebook page!

Michigan’s Budget Process Begins

The good news and the bad news at January’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference.

Michigan’s Consensus Revenue Estimating Conference (CREC) took place on Friday, January 13, 2023. The CREC meets in January and May of every year and brings together the state’s leading economists to discuss the national and state economic outlook, and issue revenue forecasts that help inform state policymakers ahead of the state budget process. The budget process is expected to formally begin in early February when Governor Whitmer releases her Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Executive Budget Recommendation. View the full CREC report (pdf).

Celebrating the Introduction of Bills to Amend the Elliott-Larsen Act

On the first day of the 2023-2024 session, our new legislators took immediate action to introduce two important bills that MLA is proud to endorse and support. Senate Bill 0004 and House Bill 4003 which mirror each other in language, were presented by a large group of senators and house members to amend the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act 453 of 1976 to include sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression as part of the long list of discriminatory practices. The Act currently prohibits discriminatory practices, policies and customs in the exercise of those rights based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status.

More Articles...